Recently my friend and I talked about how we grew up. For the most part she grew up out of the country because her dad was in the military, and she was never very close to her relatives. I grew up surrounded by my extended family, so I found this concept really weird, and made me realize that not everyone had the same experience I did, so for those who did not get the chance to grow up with a close family here is what it is like.

First of all if one person knows something, everyone knows something. If you make the mistake of revealing a crush to your mother, you can be sure you're aunts will know before the end of the week. However, if you don't tell your mom then you can be sure your aunts and cousins will hound you for updates on your love life until you cave and tell them everything. Having your family know everything isn't a bad thing for the most part, unless you do something wrong or something they don't like. For instance, if you get a tattoo, no matter how small, you can guarantee it will be part of the family discussion, even if you are away in a different city.

Having a close family also means you have multiple protectors. If you get a new boyfriend, not only does he have to meet and get approval from your dad, he also has to be approved by your grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Your uncles will probably threaten to hurt him if he dares hurt you, and of course mess with him. If your cousins don't approve, that is probably a really good sign that he is not the one for you. My cousins opinions about my boyfriends have almost always been spot on. Oh, and should you be dumped, you can guarantee you have an army to back you up, ready to sweep in for revenge at any moment. After one of my exes started dating one of my friends, my cousins and sister started a club whose sole purpose was to dislike them, complete with buttons and chants. My grandparents and aunts even joined in on the action adorning the buttons on their shirts.

Another great thing about having a close family, is always having people you can depend on. Whenever, I want food, I just show up at my grandparents house, and they will prepare a home cooked meal for me, complete with all of my favorite foods. If you need someone to talk to, you have aunts and cousins, that will gladly listen. If you're having a bad day or a falling out with a friend, you have cousins that are always going to be your friends and make you smile, no matter how much you annoy them. If you need some cheerleaders at your soccer games, you have a whole fan base ready to come out and cheer you on. Whatever you need, you have multiple people ready to help, and it is awesome to know that.

I am honestly so glad I grew up with such a close family. We would hang out every Wednesday night at my grandmas, and each lunch together almost every Sunday. I knew no matter what I had unconditional love and support. Not only was I raised by my parents, I was also raised by my great grandparents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and even my cousins, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I had so much wisdom and love poured into me growing up, and I wish that everyone could have the experience I did.